Wow! Alhambra sure did receive a lot of rain in January. Don’t you wish you could have captured some of that rainwater to use in your garden during the coming dry summer months. Now you can by taking advantage of a rain barrel rebate program being offered by the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District. If you are a resident of Alhambra, the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District is offering a rebate up to $100 for the purchase of a rain barrel. Each service address is eligible for up to four (4) rain barrels and rebates.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with residential rainwater harvesting, here is a quick primer. A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rain water from downspouts and rooftops for future outdoor watering needs. It is generally sized between 50 and 60 gallons and comes in a wide variety of materials, designs and colors. It is important to note that water from rain barrels should never be used for drinking – only use harvested rainwater for outside landscape purposes. Installing a rain barrel will help create a more sustainable community and environment, and it can reduce your monthly water bill. It takes less than a ½-inch of rainwater to fill a 55-gallon rain barrel and the collected water can be used for all your outdoor water needs. Just don’t drink the collected water!

Here’s how you can get your free rain barrel:

Step 1: Purchase your rain barrel at any hardware store, home and garden store or online. If you buy locally, you will be supporting our local economy.

Step 2: Download, complete and mail in the rebate application along with a copy of the sales receipt and mail it to:

This year Alhambra Preservation Group celebrates 10 years as a non-profit organization. Founded in 2003 by Katherine Hildreth and Oscar Amaro, Alhambra Preservation Group began as a small group of concerned Alhambra residents who loved local history and wanted to stop the razing of historic homes and structures in Alhambra. Today, APG boasts a membership of more than 100 households.

“For 10 years, APG has been a pioneering force, educating Alhambrans and advocating for the preservation of Alhambra’s historic resources,” stated Joyce Amaro, Alhambra Preservation Group President. “APG’s inaugural home tour in 2004 introduced Southern California to Alhambra’s beautiful Arts and Crafts homes. Likewise, APG’s Meet the Candidates Forum in 2006, hosted in partnership with the Pasadena League of Women’s Voters, was the first time in Alhambra’s history that residents had the opportunity to ask questions of candidates running for Alhambra City Council,” continued Amaro.

Alhambra Preservation Group continues that pioneering spirit today with its advocacy and activism. In 2015, it rallied its members to lobby for the inclusion of a Preservation Element in Alhambra’s update to its General Plan. Because of APG’s efforts, 52% of Alhambrans surveyed stated that historic preservation should be a priority in the City of Alhambra’s future planning efforts.

In 2016, APG developed a Google Map that identified more than 500 historic homes, businesses, churches and schools that still stand in Alhambra. A presentation given by APG board members last summer highlighted Alhambra’s architectural resources and asserted that Alhambra is one of Southern California’s most architecturally diverse cities, featuring close to 25 different architectural genres and sub-genres. Because of these mapping efforts, APG has been invited by the California Preservation Foundation to make a presentation on the Google map at CPF’s annual conference, which will take place in Pasadena in May, 2017.

Last year also saw the creation of the Advocacy and Action Committee. This committee has been integral in re-establishing APG’s presence at City Hall and monitoring community development activities.

The coming year will be no different. We’re gearing up for a year of education and advocacy. Here are just a few of the activities we’re planning:

Join us on a free tour of the Pasadena Tournament House on February 23. APG board member, Barbara Beckley, a former Rose Princess, will co-lead a tour of this mansion, which was the winter home of William and Ada Wrigley and now serves as the headquarters of the Tournament of Roses.

A “Meet Your New Councilmembers” event in the spring will give APG members the opportunity to meet Alhambra’s two new council members, Jeff Maloney and David Mejia.

In the summer we will organize a special 10-year fundraising campaign and Thank You APG Members event.

Our annual Heritage Awards in the fall will honor Alhambra homeowners and residents. This year we’ll be introducing the Founder’s Award, which will honor an Alhambran whose work in the area of historic preservation has been especially noteworthy.

We’ll also look to the future, asking members and residents to provide input on what APG’s goals should be for the next 10 years.

Are you ready to celebrate with us? It’s going to be an exciting year!

Join Alhambra Preservation Group on February 23, 2017 for a free tour of the historic Wrigley mansion in Pasadena that now serves as the headquarters, or Tournament House, for the Tournament of Roses. This tour will be co-led by APG’s very own vice president, Barbara Beckley, who is celebrating her 50th anniversary of being a Rose Princess. Here’s all you need to know about the tour:

Date: Thursday, February 23, 2017

Time: 3:00 p.m. (please meet at 2:45 on the home’s front porch)

Cost: Free! The tour is offered at no charge by the Tournament of Roses.

Location: 391 South Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91184

RSVP by February 21, 2017 at (626) 755-3467 or info@alhambrapreservation.org

Parking is available in a small lot on the Tournament of Roses property or on adjacent streets. Please note that the tour will include stairs.

After the tour, we’ll stop by Twoheys restaurant in Alhambra for a no-host dinner.

Built in 1914 by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr, this Italian Renaissance-style mansion was considered one of the more modest homes on Pasadena’s “Millionaire’s Row.” The three-story mansion was built for $170,000 and has 22 rooms totaling 18,500 square feet of living space. Of the Wrigley’s six residences throughout the United States, Ada Wrigley considered this home her favorite.

We’re all well into our 2017 new year resolutions by now, and no doubt, some resolutions are proving harder to keep than others. So to make things a bit easier, here are two simple ways to support your community and Alhambra Preservation Group in the new year:

1. Make a special donation to APG. We know protecting Alhambra’s neighborhoods is important to you. Won’t you consider making a special contribution? Your financial support ensures that we can keep working towards protecting and preserving Alhambra’s historic and cultural resources. Contact us today at info@alhambrapreservation.org to learn more.

2. Get involved and stay informed: Attend an APG-sponsored event, volunteer with APG’s Advocacy and Action Committee, attend a City of Alhambra Planning Commission, City Council or Design Review Board meeting, talk to your neighbors about APG and the importance of protecting Alhambra’s neighborhoods, like APG on Facebook or visit our website to learn about preservation myths and facts.

While we can’t help you lose those pesky holiday pounds, we can help you feel better about getting involved in Alhambra and being more engaged in your neighborhood. We’re asking for just two in the new year! And, thanks!